Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 4, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 11 some of the same contacts, and maybe some different new contacts, that continue to allow me to introduce the bank to new customers, maintain the good relationships that the bank has with its existing customers, and to continue to keep the visibility of the bank high." At 10.3%, UniBank has the second largest market share in Worcester County, trailing Bank of America, according to Federal Deposit Insur- ance Corp. data. With $2.5 billion in local deposits, UniBank is the largest bank headquartered in Worcester County. Augustus' ties with UniBank date back years before his hiring, as he served on the firm's board briefly before being offered the housing secretary role. During his time as city manager, he spearheaded the effort to develop the publicly owned, $160-million Polar Park baseball stadium, leading to the development of a financing district to pay for the project. at eventually led Boston-based developer Madison Properties to build e Revington apartment complex next to Polar Park. at mixed-use development was partially financed by UniBank, along with Rockland Trust and Holy- oke-based PeoplesBank. e Revington now holds a Uni- Bank branch, which opened in 2024 and is one of the bank's 14 locations, joining another Worcester branch on Gold Star Boulevard. Housing focus Augustus wants UniBank to contin- ue to focus on the residential market. Residential loans are an important part of UniBank's revenue. About 43.9% of its gross loans have residen- tial property as collateral, coming in at $935.4 million, according to the bank's December 2025 call report filed with the FDIC. e next largest loan category is consumer loans, coming in at 33% with $703.1 million, driven by Ster- ling Associates, UniBank's subsidiary providing RV and boat loans. is is followed by loans with commercial real estate as collateral, coming in at 19.7% with $419.6 million. Given the current economic climate, McDonald said more banks might switch to financing a higher amount of smaller projects, rather than a few large projects. "e smaller deals are oen easier to get done," she said. "Banks want to work with any developer that can put it together, but I think working with the smaller developers to do smaller projects is likely going to be a sweet spot for them, and probably for the city too." A focus on the residential real estate market plays into the role Augustus played in leading the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities under Gov. Maura Healey. Augustus' time there established groundwork to tackle the state's housing crisis, he said, pointing to his work staffing up the office, implementing the MBTA Communities Act, and passing the Affordable Homes Act, a set of 49 initiatives meant to accelerate housing production. "We passed it through the legislature in the same session it was introduced, which isn't always a certainty, and then we implemented it," he said. "ings like accessory-dwelling units by right … ere's no silver bullet to the hous- ing crisis, but it's part of it." Powering Business Forward CORPORATE SPONSOR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Join Us for the 2026 is annual forum aims to equip businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and others with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate today's evolving energy landscape. rough expert panels, keynote speakers, and interactive discussions, this event will dig deep into the energy market—shedding light on current trends, emerging technologies, and policy shis shaping the future of energy. Event sponsorships available. Contact your account manager or Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Register Today! wbjournal.com/event/mass-energy-summit TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026 7:30AM - Noon • Hogan Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Cost: $55 (incl. breakfast). Pre-registration required. UniBank's deposit growth UniBank's total deposits have grown 76.1% since 2015. W Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $1.0 $1.5 $2.0 $2.5 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 in billions $1.40 $2.46 $2.03

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